Originally Posted by Reformed Thomist

Eucharistic Adoration is a traditional RC practice which conservative priests and laity tend to be really into. It's very common and 'normal' even today, thanks to them. Of course, they are just following the lead of their popes -- John Paul II advocated Adoration quite a bit, as does Papa Ratzi.

Adoration can be 'perpetual' (a monstrance or pix visibly containing the host -- which they believe to be no longer bread but rather the substantial 'Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity' of Christ, having been consecrated by a priest -- is displayed at the head of the parish around the clock) or, much more commonly, 'public' (it is visibly displayed in the monstrance for a short period, usually a couple of hours a day) or 'private' (the consecrated hosts are kept hidden from sight and locked away in the tabernacle, and may be worshipped at any time). Perpetual adoration is much less common because it requires the diocesan bishop's special permission and volunteers from the parish to keep the Eucharistic elements under guard 24 hours a day. It is taken very seriously.

In either scenario, the RC faithful will kneel before the consecrated host and pray, for they believe that Jesus is physically present before them under the mere 'appearance' of bread, as physically present as He was to the people around Him when He walked the roads of Jerusalem. Special graces, it is believed, are gained by basking in this 'Real Presence'. Some old-school Catholics do it every day, 'spending time with Jesus' as they recite prayers, thumb their rosaries, or read Scripture.

I must admit that I participated in this practice many times as a Roman Catholic.